After the Flame is an information resource for homeowners dealing with fire and smoke damage. In the days after a fire, most of what you find online is written by companies that want to sell you something, or by insurers who would rather you not know your options. We try to be the opposite: plain, honest, and genuinely on your side.
Every guide is written to answer a real question a real person is searching for at a stressful moment. We say what a lot of sites will not, including when you do not need to hire anyone, and how to push back on a denied insurance claim.
How we write
Our articles are produced and reviewed by the The After the Flame editorial team. We attribute numbers to primary sources like the NFPA, FEMA, the U.S. Fire Administration, and the Insurance Information Institute rather than repeating industry claims. Where a claim cannot be verified, we leave it out.
When we suggest calling a professional
Some fire cleanup is genuinely a do-it-yourself job, and we will tell you when it is. When the situation calls for a professional, you can reach one at (844) 810-6096. Please read our advertising disclosure for how that works.